Excavator.



v summer m1: Q/JM atkhnua PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. T. P. ROCHFORD. EXOAVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.3, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

able hearin I'FFICE.

THOMAS P. nocnrom), or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

EXOAVATOR.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Application filed October 8, 1907. Serial No 895,112. I

an apparatus of this character with improved means for mounting and operating the excavating and elevatin mechanism and thereby greatly increase t e'efliciency of the apparatus. A further object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of the excavators and dredges and thereb render the same less expensive and more urable and efiicient.

The above and other objects which will ap pear as the nature of the invention is better understood, are attained in the construction illlpistfiated in the accompanying drawings, in

so Figure .1 is a side elevation of my improved excavator or dre parts broken away and in section; F' 2 1s a top plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 18 a detail perspective of one of the scoop or bucket members of the endless elevator. v

My improved excavating and dredging apparatus comprises a main frame 1 which is adapted to be mounted upon a suitable support in the form of a wheeled truck ada ted to be moved over'the ground or in the orm of ascow or similarbody adapted to float upon water. The frame 1 comprises a horizontal portion 2 and a vertical portion 3 arranged at one end of the horizontal portion. Arranged withinthe horizontal portion 2 of the frame is a vertipally swinging tame consisting of suitably connected side bars 4 having their upper ends pivotally suspended from a transverse shaft 5 journaled in suitn the .side barsof the main frame 1. ing frame may be an manner but I refera y counterbalance the same by provi in counterbalancing weights 6 upon the ends 0 cables 7 which are 9 d n he ower free end of the sw' orted in any suitab e over guide ulleys 8 upon the vertical rtion 3 of t e main frame and have t eir lower ends attached to the side bars 4.

The swinging frame supports the excavating and elevating mechanism which comprlses a trough or box 9 having a dig ing shovel or nose 10 at its lower end, and an endless elevator 11. The trough 9 is supported in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position beneath the endless elevator. so that the lower stretch of the latter will move upwardly through the same and carry the material loosened by the shovel 10 upwardly and out of its rear end from' which said material is drop (1 into a suitable conveyer (not illustrated) Said trough is susended' at its-rear end by a pair of upright evers 12 pivoted intermediate their ends at 13 on the side bars 4 of the. swingin frame and havi their lower ends ivote at 14 upon the sides of the trough. he front and lower end of the latter is suspended by a pair of similar levers l5 and also by an adusting means consisting of a block and tackle 16 arranged u on each side of the ap aratus and sus ended from the upright portion 3 of the mam frame. The lower end of each block and tackle is connected by a chain or the like 17 to an ear upon one side of the shovel 10, and the. cables 18 of the same are 35 connected to a drum or drums 19 arra ed upon the shaft 5 or otherwise located Wifillll convenient reach of an operator. The front levers 15 have their lower ends pivoted at 20 upon the opposite sides of the trough or its shovel and n1 their intermediate portions are formed longitudinal slots 21 to receive the ends of a transverse shaft 22 arranged in the lower ends of the side bars 4 of the swinging frame.- The ends of the shaft 22 form pivots for the levers 15 and the provision of.the slots 21'enables the levers to have a limited i sliding movement as well as a swinging movement. This sliding movement is rovided to allow the swinging frame 4 and t e clever tor which it carries to rise and fall within the trough 9 whenever large stones, enter said trough, and it permitssaid swinging frame to adjust itself vertically so that its lower working stretch or run will normally contact the bottom of the troughand elevate the material therein. s

The levers l2' andl-5 not only serve as suspending rneans for the trough 9but'alsc as n means whereby it may be oscillated or swung 1 10 longitudinally, that is in a forward and rearwardly direction, for the purpose of causing its nose or shovel 10 to dig into the bed of a body of water or into the side of a bank or While any suitable means maybe prohill. vided for oscillatin the levers to swing said trou h, I preferab y employ a plurality of win ing drums 23 adapted to be operated by an engine or other motor. 'I also provide three cables 24, 25, 26, which are operated by the drums 19, the cables 24 leading to the upper ends of the levers 15, cables 25 leading to the up er ends of the levers 12 and the cables 26 eing passed over guide pulleys 27 arranged in rear of the levers 12 and then attached to the latter as clearly shown in the drawings. While the foregoing is the preferred arrangement of the cables it will be understood that any other arrangement may be rovided for the purpose of oscillating the levers.

The endless elevator is in the form of a chain composed of a plurality of scoo or bucket members 29 of substantially U-s ape as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. These scoo s have tapered arms 30' adapted to overlap t e closed end of the next adjacent scoop to which they are pivoted by transverse ivots' 31. By constructing the scoops or uckets in'this manner it will be seen that they will scoop or drag the material loosened by the shovel 10 upwardly through the trough 9. The elevator passes over a uide wheel or drum 32 arranged upon the s aft 22 and also over a driving wheel or drum 33 fixed u on the shaft 5 and provided with fiat faces which engage the inner edges of the scoops or buckets 29 and prevent the chain fromslipping when power is applied to the shaft 5 for the purpose of drivin the elevator. The upper stretch or run 0 the elevator is preferably supported by rollers 34 suitably journaled upon the side bars of the swinging frame.

In use, the main frame is suitably supported as above mentioned in position to operate upon the bed of a body of water or an embankment or the like, and its support is movable so that it can bemoved forwardly as it cuts its way into the bed or embankment. When the main frame is properly positioned the block and tackle 16 is operated to adjust the digging shovel 10 at the desired elevation and the elevator 11 is then set in operation. By properly winding and unwinding the cables 24, 25, 26 the levers 12,

15 will be oscillated to oscillate or swing the trough 9 and cause its shovel 10 to dig and loosen the material to be elevated. As this material is loosened the scoops of the elevator engage it and drag it up through the trough as above stated. Owing toaeo-untfi balancing of the aw ing'elevator carryi the frame-and to its riliding connection wit the front suspending and operating levers 15 ssenae it will be seen that the lower stretch of the elevator will yield whenever it meetswith an obstruction and also as the trough 9 is raised and lowered in its swingin movement.

While I have shown an described in detail the preferred embodiment of my inven- .tion, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise showing as herein set forth and that various changes in the form, roportion and details may be resorted to within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

scribed, an elevator trough having a digging shovel and means for oscillating said trough.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, an elevator trough having a digging shovel and levers for suspending and operating said trough.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, an elevator trough having a di ging shovel, means for suspending said troug for swinging movement and means for swinging or oscillating said trough.

'4. In an apparatusof the character described, an elevator trough having a di ging shovel, means for sus ending said troifg for swinging movement, evers for actuating said trough, and means for operatin said levers.

5. scribed, an elevator trou h havi a di shovel, levers for sus enrIing and oscill aifi g said'trough and cab es attached to said is vers for oscillating the-same.

6. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, an elevator trough having a digging shovel and mounted for' oscillatory movement and an elevating mechanism arranged in said trough.

7. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, an elevator trough having a digging shovel and mounted for oscillatory movement, an elevating mechanism and means for yieldably suspending said mechanism in said trough.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, an elevator .trough having a digging shovel and mounted for oscillatory movement, an endless elevator to travel through said trough,a support for the elevator piving its other end. v

9. In an apparatus of the character described, an elevator trough having a'digging shovel and mounted for oscillatory movement, an endless elevator to travel through said trough, a support for the elevator ivot ed at one end and a c nnterlfilancing evice for yieldablysupporting its other end. 16TIn an apparatus of the character described, an elevator trough having a digging shovel and mounted for oscillatory movement, a swinging frame, means for counterbalancing the free end of said frame and an 1. In an apparatus of the character de- In an apparatus of the c aracter deoted-at one end means for yieldably supportendless elevator mounted upon said swinging frame and havin its lower stretch arrange to travel upwar y through the trough 11. In an apparatus the character described, a main frame or support, a swinging evator upon the frame thereon, an endless e swinging frame, an elevator trou' h to receive the elevator and provided wit lower end of said trough vertica y.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame or su port, a swinging frame thereon, an endless e evator upon the upon the swinging frame, the levers at the lower end of the latter being loosely pivoted for sliding movement, and means for adjustably su porting the lower end of the trough.

13; u an apparatus of the character de-' scribed, a main frame or su port, a swinging frame thereon, an endless e evator upon the swinging frame, an elevator tro h to receive the elevator and provided wit a digging a d g shovel, means for suspending and oscillating said trough and means for ad'usting thesaid elevator and provide 'shovel and a lever for oscillating said trough.

shovel, means for counterbalancing the lower end of the swinging frame and means for adjustably supporting the lower end of the trough.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame, a vertically swinging frame thereon, means for counterbalancing the swinging frame, an endless elevator upon the swingi frame and a trough arranged beneath sa d e evator.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a mainframe, a vertically swinging frame thereon, an endless elevator u n the swinging frame, a swingingi trough eneath with g n 16. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame, an endless elevator, -a swinging trough arranged beneath said elevator and provided with a digging shovel and a lever for oscillating said trough.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affixmy signature in the resence of two witnesses.

TIiOMAS P. ROCHFORD.

Witnesses:

ALFRED E. PARKER, A. W. Roonroan. 

